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There were th' Owd Dog and Pincher, but Rover bet all
That started that morning fra Extwistle Hall.

Sich huntin, sich huntin, you never did see;
So come, jolly sportsmen, and listen unto me.
"They hunted to Langridge, and then back again,
Till by Pendle Water the buck it were ta'en;
Some horses they stumbled, some riders did fall,
For they'd hunted beawt restin fra Extwistle Hall.
Sich huntin, such huntin, you never did see ;
So come, jolly sportsmen, and listen unto me.
"Owd Nudger kept leadin, and let nought come near,
An' it neighed an' it marlocked when th' hunters did cheer;
So come, jolly sportsmen, an' join wi' me all

In a health to Squire Parker o' Extwistle Hall.

Sich huntin, sich huntin, you never did see ;

So drink to Squire Parker, Rover, Nudger, an' me."

The above song was taken down from the singing of "Blacking Tommy," alias "Tommy o' Raddles," alias Thomas Walker, who can sing the song, but not recite it. The word beawt signifies without; and marlock is an expressive dialectical word signifying pranks, or playful tricks.

MISCELLANEOUS GAMES.

ARCHERY BUTTS.

THE butts, or the archery ground for Burnley, was situated in that portion of Keighley Green on which the cotton-mills belonging to Messrs Spencer & Moore now stand. In those "good old days" the ley was a narrow strip of flat land, on the banks of the river Brun, bounded by a "scar" on the one hand, and by a nicely wooded steep on the other. Some old cottages still bear the name of "The Butts." "Scar Foot," and "Scar Top"

are mentioned in title-deeds to property, but these have recently been modernised into Church Street.

BULL-BAITING.

THIS inhuman practice has been followed within the last fifty years, both at Chatburn and Waddington, near Clitheroe. This sport, however, is now quite extinct; but a lady still resides in Burnley who ran up into the attic when the last baited bull broke loose from its tormentors at Chatburn.

HAND-BALL.

THIS is still a favourite play in East Lancashire, especially with schoolboys and girls. Four stones are placed in the form of a lozenge. One of the party is then selected to give the ball. On its being thrown, the boy or girl on the outside of the row hits it with the hand. The thrower then runs for the ball, and if she can hit the striker before he or she reaches the next stone, the one who is hit becomes the thrower, and the other takes a place at the head of the line. By increasing the number of stones, more players can be accommodated; and each stone is called "home."

BANDY-BALL.

THIS game is played with a ball of wood and stout cudgels. The ball is struck in the same manner as "golf," and that side which drives it first across a given line wins the game.

SPELL AND NUR.

SPELL and nur is played somewhat differently in the neighbourhood of Burnley, from what is said of it by

Strutt in his "Sports and Pastimes." The game has also been discussed in Notes and Queries. If the ball is struck so as to diverge too much either to the right or to the left of fixed marks, the player loses the number of his wide balls. These limits are agreed upon by the players before the game is commenced.

TIP.

"TIP," or "tipcat," is still played at Burnley; but the game is locally known as "playing at t' bad." "Bad" is a North-country word descriptive of the short thick piece of wood driven by the players. He who can drive the bad the greatest distance in so many strokes wins the game.

BLACKTHORN.

ANY number of boys and girls can play at "blackthorn." Two or three, or it may be only one, stand at a line or mark, placed at some distance from another line, along which all the rest of the players stand in a row. The following dialogue then takes place :

"Blackthorn, blackthorn, blue milk and barleycorn;
How many geese have you to-day?"

Ans.-"More than you can catch and carry away." They players then run towards each other's marks, and if any one be caught before he gets home to the opposite mark, he has to carry the one who catches him to the mark, where he takes his place as an additional catcher. In this way the game goes on till all are caught.

FIVES.

THIS game is frequently played by boys at both public

and private schools. The pupils at the Burnley Grammar-School do not confine themselves to five players on one side. That party which succeeds in keeping up the ball for the longest space of time wins the game. The factory operatives are also very fond of the game, the cotton-mills affording sufficient blank wall space for the purpose.

PRISON BARS.

THIS game is much practised in East Lancashire. It is quite a favourite play with schoolboys; and they perform it exactly as laid down by Strutt in his "Sports and Pastimes," p. 79, Tegg's edition.

QUOITS AND BOWLS.'

THESE are still favourites with most classes, and ample scope is afforded for both plays at most of our wateringplaces on the western coast. "Bowling-greens" are very common. A quoiting-ground forms an appendage to almost every cricket-field in East Lancashire.

SKATES.

A PECULIAR form of skates is used in some parts of Lancashire. A long piece of iron is made smooth at the bottom edge; the back and front are then made sharp, and are turned up at right angles to the flat edge. When these points are driven into the soles of the skater's shoes or clogs, he is fully equipped.

SLINGING.

SLINGING is much practised as an amusement by boys and young men. There are three kinds of slings in use

First, A piece of leather forms the centre; two equal strings are then attached to it. The stone is then placed in the leather portion, and both strings are held in the hand. On a whirling motion being given to the whole, one string is let loose, and the stone is thrown forward with great velocity.

In the second form, a flexible stick takes the place of one of the strings, and the other string is wrapped once or twice round the stick. Motion is then communicated to the stone by a quick vertical stroke from behind to the front of the person slinging.

The third method is by fastening the stone into a cloven stick and then projecting it forward. When throwing clay bullets, the stick is pointed at the top in the form of a cone, and the bullet is firmly pressed upon it. These missiles are then thrown either by a vertical or a horizontal motion, at the pleasure of the slinger.

TRIPPET.

THIS game is played in the fields, and was very popular in East Lancashire some forty years ago. It is still practised by the colliers in this district. The players choose a smooth water-worn boulder of sandstone or limestone, with a gently sloping side. The trippet is about two inches long, and is made of holly. It is about one inch in diameter in the middle, and slopes off towards each end in a somewhat conical form. A portion of the

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